Best Late-Night Korean/Best Kim Jong Il Mural (2010)

When it comes to late-night adventures, Koreatown's Dan Sung Sa has plenty. With its dark-wood walls scrawled with love notes, and central grill wafting barbecue plumes, this cozy dive is a gateway to another world. While the exterior features a prominent image of Kim Jong Il facing off against former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, the interior feels like a saloon. Since Dan Sung Sa has a flexible closing policy (it "officially" stops serving beer at 2 a.m.), many of the late-night regulars curled over the wooden tables wouldn't stand out on Tatooine. The food is mostly izakaya-style with small plates of smoky barbecue bacon and rich potato pancakes that make suitable accompaniments for the main courses, including crispy-fried chicken ($11.99) and tender sweet-and-spicy barbecue pork ribs ($10.99). Wash it all down with some soju and Hite beer, and you've got a slice of the DMZ in L.A. 3317 W. 6th St., Koreatown. (213) 487-9100. Drew Tewksbury